Arch-supporter.



W. 0. WETNIORE.

ARCH SUPPOH'TER. APPLlCATIOM HLED )UNE I8, 1914.

Patented July (i,v l9l5.

MJRIAM VJETMRE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIIA.

ARGH-SUPPORTER.

...mm-...m

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented truly MM5..

Application ed fune 18, 1914. Serial No. 845,832.

To @ZZ 'whom t may concern.'

Re it known that l', lirnnniir 0. VVETMORE, a citizen of the United States, residingat Washington, in the llistrict of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Arch-Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in ai'clrsnpporters, designed to be positioned Within a boot, shoe or the like for the purpose of supporting the arch of the `Wearers foot.

An object of the invention is the provision of an arch-supporter comprising a flexible pad formed With a plurality of air tight cellsr or compartments, positioned beneath ball of the foot, the arch and the heel respectively, the same having communicating passages, whereby fluid or the like contained therein, will be forced from the said ball and heel coirip'artments, into the arch compartment, for the purpose of intlating the latter as the person AWearing the same Wallis in the usual manner, and bracing or supporting the arch for the time being, and if Worn continually, effecting' a permanent cure and correcting what is commonly termed a broken or fallen arch.

Another object of the inventionI is the provision of an arch supporter having a coilniiartment disposed beneath the arch of the foot of the wearer, and means for con- 'tinnonsly 'in tiatinp; said compartment by the usual heel and toe pressure of the wearer While Walking in a usual manner.

A further object ofV the invention is the provision of an arch supporter comprising a flexible pad having airtight compartments therein, adapted to be positioned beneath the hall, arch and heel of the foot of the wearer, the said compartments under the ball and heel respectively communicating with the opposite sides of the arch compartment whichl is separated into upper and lower cells, adapted for continuons alternate inflation npon the Walking of the wearer, exertingf at all times a slight npivard pressure beneath the arch of the `wearers foot.

A still further object of the invention is 'to improve and simplify devices of this character, rendering1 them comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and comfortable to- Wear, and it is to be linderstood in this connection that l am not to be limited. to the exact structure shown and described for accomplishing my purpose, but may resort to any minor changes in the specific details of construction, Without departing` from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

lvVith the above and other objects in View', this invention resides in the novel features ofconstruction, formations, combinations and arrangements of parts to he hereinafter more fully described, claimed and. iilustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, and in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view taken through my invention; Fig. 2 is' a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of' Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line of Fig. L Fir): i is a modified form of my invention.

Referring to the accompanying one of drawing, by similar characters of refcrence, throughout the several views, the nir` meral 5 denotes in gener-ai my improved arch supporter, comprising a paci. (i of any desired lieXiblc material, preferably 'air tight, the ripper side thereof being curved as at 7, to conform to the shape the ff" of the Weareigand which is shown at 8.

The numerals il, l0, and l denote the ball, arch, and heel of the foot respectireiy..

An arch compartment l2, is formed. Within the pad 6, beneath the arch 10., While posi tioncd beneath the ball 9 and heel l0, are the ball and heel compartments 13 and le.

A thin diaphragm l5, entends across the arch compartment l2, dividing the same into upper and lower cells 16 and l?, the former of which communicates, through the duct 18; with the ball compartment 13, Whiie thelatter communicates througrh a similar duct 19, With the heel compartmei ll. The compartments 13 and 14rare adapted to be filled With any suitable actuating; fluid `.ich as air, gas, water or the liife, which can be applied. thereto through ti hippies 20.

lf desired the pad 6, i 'i he made from fabric or other non-airtight material, and the compartments lined with an airtight material such as rubber or the iilie, hat it is }')referreci to form the pad, as described in the foregoing detailed description.

When in use, the pad 6, is positioned Within the boot or shoe, and if preferred canfbe made a, part thereof, for instance, the sole, in such manner that the foot of the wearer engages the same as clearly shown in F l. tlbviously, duringn the walking of I thin flexible diaphragms the vwearer in the .usual manner, as the weight, ot the body exerts pressure on the Vball of the foot, the compartment 13 will be compressed, and the iiuid contained therein consequently forced through the duct 18 into the cell 16. As the weight. of the body is thrown on thc heel ll., the compartment 'le will be compressed, forcing the fluid contained therein out through the duct 19 and into the ment l2. lt will thus be obvious that the constant walking of the wearer of the supporter, will continually torce the tluid into the compartment 12, from the compartments 11 and 13, exerting at all times a gentle upward pressure beneath the arch, thereby supporting the same, and in time eecting a permanent cure of iallen or broken arches yand other foot diseases.

From the Jforegoing it will be manifest that an arch-supporter is provided, which' will fulfil all the necessary requirements of such a device.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, which illustrates a modified form of my invention, the ball and heel compartments are separated from the arch compartment by 2l, and as the said ball and heel compartments are compressed these diaphragms are forced inwardly, obviously compressing the duid within the arch compartment, and forcing the pad Vupwardly beneath the arch, and thereby supporting the same.

Having thus fully described this invention, what claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. ln an arch supporter, a pad having a compartment formed therein for disposition beneath the arch, and a diaphragm in said compartment, dividing the same into cells, and means 'for iniating said cells, and expanding the pad beneath said arch.

2. ln an arch supporter, a pad having a plurality of pairs of compartments therein, the compartments of each pair being in con-- municatlon, there being no communication between the pairs of-,compartments 3. In an arch supporter, a pad having a compartment therein, said compartment being divided into non-communicating cells, and additional compartments spaced from 'the tiret-named compartment and each communicating with one or the cells.

4. ln an arch supporter, a pad, having a compartment therein, a diaphragm extending across said compartment Jforming noncommunicating cells, additional compartments formed in said pad upon the opposite sides of the first mentioned compartment, and communicating ducts formed in the pad, and connecting each of the cells with only one of the additional compartments.

5. )n an arch supporter, a pad having an arch compartment therein, larranged to be cell 17, of the said compart` positioned beneath the arch oi the toot ot the wearer, additional compartment-s formed in said pad., and arranged to be positioned beneath the ball and heel ot said ioot, and a diaphragm dividing the arch compartment into non-communi ating cells, the pad having ducts therein connecting each of the compartments to be positioned beneath the ball and heel oi the ioot, with only one ol the cells.

6. n an arch supporter', a pad `having a compartment therein arranged to be posi tioned under and terminate at the arch of ,the foot of the wearer, and means actuated by heel pressure ior forcing iuid therein.

7. ln an arch supporter, a pad having an arch compartment therein arranged to be positioned under and terminate at the arch ot the wearcrs toot, and means actuated by heel and toe pressure for forcing fluid into said arch compartment.

8. ln an arch supporter, a pad having an arch compartment therein, said comp-art# ment being divided into cells, and heel and ball compartments in communication with the'cells and actuated by heel and toe pressure and so arranged that fiuid will be forced alternately into said cells by the act of walking.

9. In an arch supporter, having compartments formed therein, one of which is arranged to be positioned under and terminating at the arch of the wearcrs a pad, Said pad :toot and adapted to be expanded upon the compression of either of the other compartments.

10. In an arch supporter, a pad, said pad having compartments formed therein, onel or' which is arranged to be positioned under and terminating at the arch ot the wearers :toot and adapted to have the fluid 'from either of the other compart ients 'forced thereinto upon compression of either of such compartments. v

l1. ln lan arch supporter, a pad, said pad having compartments formed therein, one ot which is arranged to be positioned under and terminating at the arch of the wcarers ootand adapted to have the fiuid from the other compartments forced thercinto upon compression of said other compartments.

1Q. In ,an arch supporter, a pad having compartments formed therein arranged to be positioned beneath the ball, arch, and

heel of a foot, said ball and heel compartthe commu- 13. n an arch supporter, a pad having a "ist compm'tmfent formed therein, a diap'magm ocatad therein and dividing h@ cmpmtment n-o uppr andi lower Cells, and means for @Xpandng the oeils and natng the pad sxjant said compartment.

Je n an arch supporzer, a pad having a compatmen, therein, uA hmzenm iaphragm located in said. compartment :md wmng uppeand lowm cells heen, said pad having ball and heel compartment@ formed the-rein, and the said balli andi .heel

compaytments being .in communication. with the 'upper anc. lower cells of the mich compwment Tespectvey sgbstantaly as and for the purposes set, forth.

n testimony whereof mig R15/'signature in presence of tw@ witnesses WILLMM Q. WMM/0mg. Wimesses E, JJGER, C. SMIT@ 

